Review: Plated (Healthy, Sustainable & High Quality)

Plated is a unique standout meal delivery service in that it offers a lot of flexibility, freedom in recipe combinations, and the option to pick between 20 different recipes and dessert options per week.

In addition to that and the standard convenience factor, all of Plated’s sourcing is organic, fresh and seasonal, with no added hormones, artisanal ingredients, sustainably caught seafood, and all pork and poultry are raised free of any antibiotics. So if you are in search of a meal delivery subscription service prepared fresh and with only the highest quality of sourcing and preparation, Plated is an excellent option to pick from in comparison to some competitors.

Not only are dishes thoughtfully sourced, uniquely crafted, and finely curated (making the dishes taste excellent), Plated offers a cookbook and blog space for foodies to collectively plan and execute their next creations. The blog of course is free and uniquely written by a collection of specialty content authors, and the book is available per purchase.

This is also a highly-rated company in terms of customer service and support, and one of the first and only we have tested with live chat options if you ever need help with your order (bonus points for excellent

Plated is highly esteemed and well reviewed, but do they live up to other meal kits in terms of menu options and pricing structures?

We tested out the service and reviewed to find out more.

Image Credit: Plated

Plated: Menus and Meal Options

With Plated, you can select from a variety of different fresh menu options per week, and also view menu options for upcoming weeks (as with most meal kit services, it’s fine to skip and/or cancel at your discretion).

Beyond that, you can select from options including family-friendly, popular recipes, low calorie options, vegetarian plans, meat options, and seafood options. So if you have a particular idea or plan in mind for the week, or always want exclusive dietary options, you can simply click on your preferences and then select meals for the week from there.

Family-friendly options include French-inspired Asparagus and Brie Pizza with Caramelized Onion and Whole-Wheat Crust, Rosemary Pork Chops with Fig-Balsamic Glaze and Blue Cheese Potatoes, and Chicken, Kale, and Fregola Bowls with Pesto and Parmesan. All of these options are easy to make and take less than 40 minutes to prepare, which for family style meal plans is quite impressive.

Image Credit: Plated

If you’re a fan of fresh meat options with high quality (and well sourced options without any added hormones), you may be a fan of meals like Beef Bolognese Sliders with Ricotta and Little Gem Salad, Spanish-style Sherry-Marinated Steak with Potatoes and Creamy Tomato Sauce, Steak au Poivre with with Crispy Fingerling Potatoes, or French-inspired Roasted Chicken au Jus with Orzo and Broccoli. All ready in under 40 minutes and perfectly seasoned? Qui, qui…we say.

Vegetarians can enjoy all of the same fresh ingredients with the best product and options that are light yet filling and filled with whole grains. Some choices include Mushroom-Provolone Panini with Fig Jam and Roasted Red Peppers, Spanakopita Grilled Cheese Sandwiches with Greek Salad, Chickpea, Spinach, and Quinoa Bowls with Tikka Masala and Coriander-Lime Vinaigrette and fresh Spring Vegetable Soup with White Beans and Garlic Pull-Apart Bread. All easy to prepare and make in 35 minutes or less.

If you want to get even more specific, you can make selections from low-calorie plans, low carb options, spicy meals, stovetop-only meals, no gluten ingredients, popular recipes and weekly recipes.

It’s likely one of the best meal kit services we have tried in terms of overall quality and taste, and also the variety of options for all different dietary preferences and those with certain allergies, food restrictions, and general preferences.

Plated: How It Works and Signing Up

Using the service and interface is very simple with Plated, and involves a very easy sign up plan where you get to decide how often you’d like to eat and select your own dietary preferences and/or limitations.

You then select from 20 different weekly recipes and different dessert options as per your preferences, receive all you need in weekly insulated boxes with freshly pre-packaged ingredients, and the recipe cards are simple to understand with clear instructions (and come in every box for each meal you’ve picked).

The subscriptions are flexible and personalized, you can skip or cancel as you’d like (and you can view upcoming weeks to determine menu plans and what/how much you want), and it’s easy to share servings if desired.

Image Credit: Plated

Plated: Plans and Pricing Structures

Compared to quality of ingredients and options, the pricing structure with Plated is great in terms of convenience and certainly beats dining out, but is not the best out of every meal plan we have tried. It can be a bit pricey if you are used to regular grocery shopping on a budget, which is perhaps the only downside to using the service.

With that said, especially with family plan options, there are some excellent discounts for signing up, and if you are looking for a great plan with fresh and well-sourced ingredients that offers the most variety and have a specific diet option and want to select from a lot of different options free of limitations, Plated still has a great offering in terms of value.

Image Credit: Plated

Regular 2-serving plan options are priced from $47.80-$95.60 (for 2-4 nights per week). This plan structure makes a great deal for 2 adults, 1 adults with some leftovers, or 1 adult and 1 child. Per serving, meals come to $11.95 per serving, which is fairly standard in comparison to competitors.

The 3-serving plan option starts with 40% off your first week, and prices range from $35.82-$71.64 (for 2-4 nights per week, including the discount). This structure is good if you’re looking to feed 3 adults, or 2 adults and 2 kids. Priced per meal, servings come to $9.95 each.

The 4-serving plan option starts with the same 40% off the first week discount, and prices range from $47.76- $95.52 (for 2-4 nights per week, including the discount). This option works well for family-style dinners, 2 adults and 2 teens, or adults who want to host guests.